The US has lifted its freeze on new Mexico City flights by Mexican airlines, ending a year-long standoff that kept carriers like Aeromexico and Viva from launching new routes to the US from the Mexican capital. Mexico's government announced the decision in a joint statement on Friday, October 16.
Mexican airlines can now add new US routes from both of Mexico City's international airports. That covers Benito Juárez, the city's main airport, as well as Felipe Ángeles, the newer airport north of the city. Aeromexico and Viva both welcomed the move, saying it would strengthen air connections between the two countries, according to Reuters.
US–Mexico · Mexico City Flights
The Mexico City Freeze Is Lifted
Contrail
Why the US Froze Flights
The dispute goes back to a 2015 agreement that governs flights between the two countries. In 2022, Mexico took back takeoff and landing slots that US passenger airlines held at Mexico City's main airport and forced US cargo airlines to move their operations elsewhere. Washington said those moves broke the agreement.
In October 2025, the US Transportation Department hit back by freezing any expansion of Mexican passenger and cargo flights from the two Mexico City airports. In May, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Mexico had agreed to improve US airlines' access to Mexico City. The Transportation Department said Friday's decision reflects the steps Mexico has taken since.
What's Still in Place
The standoff hasn't completely ended. Mexican airlines still have to file their US flight schedules with the Transportation Department and get approval to fly larger planes on those routes. Two other orders tied to the dispute also remain in effect, and a US official told Reuters that Washington will keep watching whether Mexico sticks to its commitments.
Friday's decision is also separate from a review of Mexico's aviation safety oversight that the Federal Aviation Administration carried out in August.
What It Means for Travelers
Nothing changes for your next trip just yet, since no airline has announced new routes so far. But the freeze was the main thing stopping Mexican airlines from growing in one of the busiest international markets from the US, and lifting it opens the door to new nonstop options to Mexico City and more competition on fares.
It's also a reminder of how much governments shape which flights exist at all. Between the US and China, each country's airlines are capped at 50 round trips a week. And when the US lifted its 40-year ban on flights to Beirut, the flights didn't start right away. If you're planning a Mexico City trip for next year, it's worth checking for new routes from Aeromexico and Viva in the coming months before you book.
